Miki Howard

Miki Howard’s professional music career ignited as a vocalist for the R&B group Side Effect, joining in 1979 and contributing to albums like ‘After the Rain’ (1980), ‘Portraits,’ and ‘All Aboard’ before her departure in 1985. During her tenure, she helped craft minor R&B hits such as ‘I Can’t Play’ and a cover of Toto’s ‘Georgy Porgy’ in 1983/84, while also lending background vocals for notable artists including Wayne Henderson, Roy Ayers, and Stanley Turrentine. After securing a recording contract with Atlantic Records, Howard launched her solo career with the debut album ‘Come Share My Love’ in 1986, which climbed to number 19 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. The album’s title track became her first U.S.

hit, reaching number five on the R&B Singles chart, followed by her rendition of ‘Imagination’ peaking at number 13, and ‘Come Back to Me Lover’ charting at number 33. Building on this success, Howard released her second album, ‘Love Confessions,’ in 1987. This record featured two Top 10 R&B singles: ‘Baby, Be Mine,’ which reached number five, and the duet ‘That’s What Love Is’ with Gerald Levert, also charting at number five. That same year, she further solidified her presence by opening for Cameo on a concert tour.

Her career and influence were highlighted on TV One’s ‘Unsung: Miki Howard’ in 2010 and ‘Way Black When’ in 2011. She embarked on the Throwback Unplugged Tour in 2011 and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chicago Music Awards in 2012. More recently, she released the EP ‘I Choose to Be Happy’ and the live album ‘Miki Howard: Live in Concert,’ both in 2015, showcasing her enduring appeal and powerful live performances.